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linux install

github-actions[bot] edited this page Jul 19, 2026 · 1 revision

Installing Linux? Switch to text mode + SSH first

Part of the bundled kvm-pilot skill. Read this before starting any OS install through the KVM. Also served at runtime by the MCP doctrine tool (topic "linux-install").

When the task is a Linux install through the KVM, do not click through the graphical installer (coordinates are unreliable, #128/#129). Before the installer boots, edit the boot entry over HID — e at GRUB / Tab at syslinux (press_key/send_shortcut + type_text) — append the distro's text+SSH args, boot (Ctrl+X/Enter), and finish over SSH:

Family Append / do
Fedora/RHEL/Rocky/Alma inst.sshd inst.text (+inst.lang=en_US; inst.ks=<url> for fully automatic)
Debian / Ubuntu-legacy d-i anna/choose_modules=network-console network-console/password=<pw> — SSH in as installer
Ubuntu Server (Subiquity) live sshd already running; autoinstall ds=nocloud-net;s=<url> for hands-off
openSUSE/SLES ssh=1 ssh.password=<pw>, then run yast.ssh in the session
Arch / Alpine none — live-ISO shell: passwd + start sshd

After boot: discover the DHCP IP (ssh-bootstrap OCRs it off the console; or DHCP leases), verify ssh_reachable(host=…), then drive via ssh_exec. Already stuck in a GUI installer? kvm-pilot ssh-bootstrap retrofits the channel (see interfaces.md). Caution: installer sshd is weakly authenticated (Anaconda inst.sshd = passwordless root) — LAN-you-own only, set credentials immediately. Full matrix + rationale: docs/unattended-install.md.

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